Improved machine for preparing axle-skein molds



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i rrED STATES PATENT Einen.

JAMES e. BOLT, on oHroAGo, rLLINoI-s.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 55,295, dated Juno 5, 1866.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the vertically sliding plate to which the` tools are secured. Fig. 3

is a vertical section through the upper portion of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the tool which is adapted for preparing the molds for the castings. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the elliptic-grooved piece for actuating the bead-forming tool. Fig. 7 isa top view of Fig. 5. i,Fig S represents, in section, the aXle skein molds prepared ready for the reception of the cores. Fig. 9 is a sec' tional view, representing the molds and cores together ready for receiving the metal. Figs. l0 and 1l represent an axle-skein.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

In the operation of making molds for castings I first produce plain molds in sand by means of conical patterns, using either a steady pressure for packing the sand about the patterns, or the sand maybe rammed about the patterns in the usual manner of making molds. It is then necessary to give an elliptical shape to the largest ends of these molds and to form depressions in them at suitable points for producingv castings corresponding in shape to the outer surface of the skeins which it is desired to make.

The nature of my invention consists in a machine which will sleek and press the walls of the molds, and at the same time form groovesin the molds which will produce proper shoulders on the castings, and otherwise shape and prepare the molds for producing perfectly-formed axle-skeins, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

In the accom panyin gdrawin gs, Arepresents a horizontal table having two rails, a a, upon it, by means of which latter the asks can be easily moved up to and from the tools which prepare the molds. Four rods, A' A', project perpendicularly from the corners of the table A, and are connected together at their upper ends by meansof four arms, B, which are united together at the middle of their length, so as to form a central bearing for a vertically-sliding shaft, B', and also a support for a horizontal bevel-spur wheel, B2, that is used for turning said shaft B', as will be further described.

C represents a horizontal frame which is secured at its four corners to sliding tubes or collars a' a' on the vertical rods A', as shown in Figs.v 1, 2, and 3. From the sides of this frame G project two curved arms, b b, to which two vertical rack bars, b' b', are secured. These rack-bars project down on each side of the bed or table A, through suitable guidepieces, and engage with the teeth of pinion spur-wheels that are rotated be means of a shaft, b2, and hand-wheel b3, as shown in Fig. 1.

By means of the racks and pinions and the hand or crank wheel b3 the frame G can be elevated or depressed at pleasure.

The central shaft, B', is rotated by means of a hand-wheel, D, which is keyed to a horizontal shaft that has its bearing upon the arms B, and that has a pinion-wheel, D', keyed to it, which engages with the horizontal spur-wheel B2. This wheel B2 is connected to the shaft B' by means of a key-tenori which enters a longitudinal groove in the shaft B', so as to allow ythis shaft to be moved up and down with the frame C. Y

The shaft B' has a pinion-spur wheel, c, keyed on its lower .end beneath the frame C, which pinion engages with the teeth of four pinionspur wheels, o' c', that are keyed to tubes c2, which have the conical formers E on their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 3. These formers or tools E are supported beneath the frame C by means of collars d above this frame and collar-bearings d' beneath the frame, which latter are supported upona plate, C', that is connected to frame G by means of studs, as shown in Fig. l. By this arrangement the four tools, E, will be simultaneously rotated when. the main shaft B' is rotated.

A rod, o, passes loosely through each one of the rotating tubes c2, and connects at its upper end with a vertically-movable frame, F, and

at its lower end with a sliding plate,f.

The frame F is elevated or depressed by means of curved inclined planes h, which are secured to'an oscillating ring, F'. The inclined strips h are connected to slotted boxes on the ends of the frame F in such manner that when the ring F is moved round in one direction the frame F and its rods e will be raised, and when the ring F is reversed said rods and frame will ,be depressed.

The ring F is supported in a horizontal position by means of posts projecting up from the main frame, and this ring is connected to the posts by pins or screws which pass through curved slots made through the ring. The handle F2 is used for moving the ring F.

The tools which shape and smooth the inside walls of the sand molds are shown clearly in Figs. 3, et, and 5, and as all of these tools are made alike, I will describe the construction of but one of them.

The tool E tapers from a cylindrical portion, g, to its lower end, and terminates at this end in a cylindrical stem, g', which serves as a lower steadying-pin for the tool during the operation of finishingthe molds, as will be further described. The body of the tool Eis constructed with flat sides, and on one edge, g2, an enlargement is made which has a rounded outer surface or sleeking-surfaceand a sharp edge, the latter serving as a kind of scraper, while the former serves to smooth and press the walls of the mold.

A cutter, t', having a tapering edge and a quarter-round edge or oval, is `fitted into a transverse recess in one side of the tool E near its upper end. This cutter is intended for giving the elliptical form to the largest end of the mold, and also to form one-half of the halfround bead on the skein, as shown in Figs. 8 and l0.

A pin having a small anti-friction roller on it projects from the upper edge of the cutter i, and enters an elliptical groove which is made in a piece, Gr, that is secured to the plate C', as shown in the drawings.

When the tool E is rotated the groove in the portion G will cause the cutting-edge of t' to` make an elliptical sweep, thus giving the proper shape to the mold. Another cutter, j,

is operated 'by means of the slide f and the parts for moving this slide, above described, for giving the circular depression in the mold, which produces the shoulder j on the casting, as shown in Fig. 1. This cutter receives a movement at right angles to the movement of the slide f and its rod e, and it is not thrust out beyond the edge of the tool E until this tool and the cutter i have completed their work. The cutter j should be drawn back out y of the way before the tool E is elevated out of the mold.

The molds, which are first prepared from conical plane-faced patterns, are slightly smaller than the tool E, for the p urpose of enabling this tool to finish the mold by pressing, scraping, and smoothing its sides. In this waya perfectly-formed mold can be made, and all of the molds thus made will be of a uniform size and shape.

In Fig. 8 1 have represented the molds as they would appear upon withdrawing the cutting, shaping, and smoothing tools, and in Fig. 9 I have represented the mold and cores l put together for receiving the metal and prodncing a casting of the form shown in Figs. 10 and l1.

The mode of preparing the cores will be de scribedin another application for a patent which I shall make.

In order to facilitate the upward movement of the frame C and its attachments after each operation of Vcompleting a moldAor series of molds in a iiask, I propose using a counter` weight, W, which will be attached to a chain -that passes over pulleys P P and connects with the upper end of the main shaft B', as shown in Fig. 1. This weight will materially aid in lifting the frame C.

The tools E are steadied and prevented from vibrating as they descend i'nto the molds by means of the stems g', which areformed on said tools, entering holes Z, which are made through the bottom plates of the flasks, which holes are in the center of their respective molds, as shown in Fig. 8.

I have hereinabove described a machine which is provided with four molding-tools for producing four perfect molds at one opera- -tion; butI do not confine my invention to the making of four molds at one time, as the same contrivances may be used for making a sin gle mold or a greater number of molds than four at one operation.

By my invention I am not only enabled to produce undercut molds of a superior kind in one ask, but I am also enabled to pack and smooth the molds, so that their surfaces will be much harder than molds whichare made altogether by patterns.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The machine, constructed and operating substantially as herein described, for cutting, sleeking, and packing the walls of sand molds for casting axle-skeins, which molds have been.

previously prepared by patterns, substantially as described.

2. The means, substantially as herein described, whereby sand molds which have been prepared by patterns, substantially as described, are subjected to the operation of rotary and vertically-moving and laterally-sliding tools `which are adapted for inishing said molds, substantially as set forth.

3. Providing the tool E, which finishes the molds, with one or more movable cutters, constructed and operated substantially as described, for producing the undercuttingin the molds, substantially as described. y

4.. The combination of molding-tools E with a vertically-sliding frame, C, and also with devices which will admit of these tools being rotated about their axes for finishing molds, substantially as and for the purpose described.

JAMES Gr. I-IOLT.

Witnesses:

GaAs. B. BROWN, d FRANcrs O. KANE;` 

